Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1384

1028 The executive power is in the hands of the King, who acts under the advice of a Council of State, the head of which is the Minister of State. It consists of ten members, seven of whom are ministerial heads of departments and three without department, and is composed as follows:—

1. Erik Gustaf Boström, Minister of State; appointed July 10, 1891.

2. Count Ludvig Vilhelm August Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs; appointed June 1, 1895.

3. Per Samuel Ludvig Annerstedt, Minister of Justice; appointed Febniary 5, 1896.

4. Baron Axel Emil Rappe, Minister of War; appointed June 22, 1892.

5. Jarl Casimir Eugène Christerson, Minister of Marine; appointed December 16, 1892.

6. Julius Edvard von Krusenstjerna, Minister of the Interior; appointed October 6, 1896.

7. Count Hans Hansson Wachtmeister, Minister of Finance; appointed July 16, 1897.

8. Nils Ludwig Alfred Claëson, Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs; appointed June 22, 1898.

9. Baron Albert Lars Evert Åkerhielm; appointed September 28, 1888.

10. Sven Herman Wikblad; appointed October 12, 1889.

All the members of the Council of State are responsible for the acts of the Government.

II. .

The provincial administration is entrusted in Stockholm to a Governor-General, and in each of the 24 governments to a prefect, who is nominated by the King. As executive officers of the prefects there are 117 baillies (Kronofogdar) and 518 sub-officers (Länsmän). The right of the people to regulate their own local affairs is based on the communal law of March 21, 1862. Each rural parish, and each town, forms a commune or municipality in which all who pay the local taxes are voters. Each commune has a communal or municipal council. The communal assembly or municipal council decides on all questions of administration, police and communal economy. Ecclesiastical affairs and questions relating to primary schools are dealt with by the parish assemblies, presided over by the pastor of the parish. Each government has a general council which regulates the internal aiiairs of the government. The council meets annually for a few days in September under a president appointed by the King from among its members. The members are elected by the towns and provincial districts. Towns having a population of at least 1-150th (if the total population of the country and towns already separated from the 'Landstings,' and where the number of inhabitants is not fallen below that which caused their separation, are administered separately by their municipal councils: these towns are Stockholm, Göteborg, Malmö, Norrköping, and Gefle.

Area and Population. I..

The first census took place in 1749, and it was repeated at first every third year, and subsequently, after 1775, every fifth year. At present, a general census is taken every ten years, beside which there are annual numerations of the people.

The area and population of Sweden, according to the census